Percorrer por autor "Alvito, Paula"
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- Climate change and aflatoxins exposure in Portugal: could be expect a significant health risk?Publication . Assunção, Ricardo; Martins, Carla; Viegas, Susana; Viegas, Carla; Jakobsen, Lea S.; Pires, Sara; Alvito, PaulaIn recent decades, changes in climate have caused impacts on natural and human systems on all continents and across the oceans. Climate change has become one of the most critical issues for the sustainable development of human societies and the functioning of ecosystems on earth. Portugal in highly vulnerable to climate change impacts due to its Europe south-western geographical situation, mainly through decreasing annual precipitation, more intense extreme weather and climate events. In fact, climate change is considered as one of the biggest global threats to human health of the 21st century and its effects will undoubtedly influence agriculture systems and food safety. Due to the potential impact on the occurrence of food hazards, increased concern has being aroused. [...] Considering the impact of climate change in mycotoxin contamination of food products available in Portugal, the present study aims to discuss the potential influence of climate change in the health risk associated to aflatoxins dietary exposed of Portuguese population.
- Climate change and the health impact of aflatoxins exposure in Portugal: an overviewPublication . Assunção, Ricardo; Martins, Carla; Viegas, Susana; Viegas, Carla; Jakobsen, Lea S.; Pires, Sara; Alvito, PaulaClimate change has been indicated as a driver for food safety issues worldwide, mainly due to the impact on the occurrence of food safety hazards at various stages of the food chain. Mycotoxins, natural contaminants produced by fungi, are among the most important of such hazards. Aflatoxins, which have the highest acute and chronic toxicity of all mycotoxins, assume particular importance. A recent study predicted aflatoxin contamination in maize and wheat crops in Europe within the next 100 years and aflatoxin B1 is predicted to become a food safety issue in Europe, especially in the most probable scenario of climate change (+2 °C). This review discusses the potential influence of climate change on the health risk associated with aflatoxins dietary exposure of Portuguese population. We estimated the burden of disease associated with the current aflatoxin exposure for Portuguese population in terms of Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs). It is expected that in the future the number of DALYs and the associated cases of hepatocellular carcinoma due to aflatoxins exposure will increase due to climate change. The topics highlighted through this review, including the potential impact on the health of the Portuguese population through the dietary exposure to aflatoxins, should represent an alert for the potential consequences of an incompletely explored perspective of climate change. Politics and decision-makers should be involved and committed to implementing effective measures to deal with climate change issues and to reduce its possible consequences. This review constitutes a contribution to the prioritization of strategies to face the unequal burden of effects of weather-related hazards in Portugal and across Europe.
- Exposure assessment to mycotoxins in a Portuguese fresh bread dough company by analysis of dust and urine samplesPublication . Viegas, Susana; Assunção, Ricardo; Nunes, Carla; Osteresch, Bernard; Twaruzek, Magdalena; Kosicki, Robert; Grajewski, Jan; Alvito, Paula; Almeida, Ana; Viegas, CarlaOccupational exposure to mycotoxins can occur in many and different work environments. Critical workplaces for mycotoxins appearance have already been studied and nowadays it is possible to investigate that exposure to mycotoxins is likely through inhalation due to their presence in dust. This study aimed to assess occupational co-exposure to mycotoxins in a fresh bread dough company, an workplace not studied until now.
- Exposure assessment to mycotoxins in a Portuguese fresh bread dough company by using a multi-biomarker approachPublication . Viegas, Susana; Assunção, Ricardo; Nunes, Carla; Osteresch, Bernd; Twarużek, Magdalena; Kosicki, Robert; Grajewski, Jan; Martins, Carla; Alvito, Paula; Almeida, Ana; Viegas, CarlaMycotoxins are toxic mold metabolites that can persist in environment long after the fungi species responsible for their production disappear. Critical workplace for mycotoxins presence has already been studied and nowadays it is possible to recognize that exposure to mycotoxins through inhalation occurs due to their presence in dust. This study aimed to assess occupational co-exposure to multiple mycotoxins in a fresh bread dough company, an occupational setting not studied until now. Occupational exposure assessment to mycotoxins was done using a LC-MS/MS urinary multi-biomarker approach. Twenty-one workers and nineteen individuals that were used as controls participated in the study. Workers/controls (spot-urine) and environment (settled dust) samples were collected and analyzed. Concerning workers group, DON-GlcA, and OTA were the most prevalent biomarkers (>LOD), 66% and 90.5%, respectively. In the control group, OTA was also one of the most detected (68%) followed by CIT (58%) and DON-GlcA (58%). DON was the mycotoxin measured in high amounts in the settled dust sample (58.2 ng/g). Both workers and controls are exposed to several mycotoxins simultaneously. The workers group, due to their high contact with flour dust, revealed a higher exposure to DON. Considering these results, risk management measures must be applied including specific and adequate health surveillance programs in order to avoid exposure and consequently the associated health consequences.
- Harmonized human biomonitoring in European children, teenagers and adults: EU-wide exposure data of 11 chemical substance groups from the HBM4EU Aligned Studies (2014–2021)Publication . Govarts, Eva; Gilles, Liese; Rodriguez Martin, Laura; Santonen, Tiina; Apel, Petra; Alvito, Paula; Anastasi, Elena; Andersen, Helle Raun; Andersson, Anna-Maria; Andryskova, Lenka; Antignac, Jean-Philippe; Appenzeller, Brice; Barbone, Fabio; Barnett-Itzhaki, Zohar; Barouki, Robert; Berman, Tamar; Bil, Wieneke; Borges, Teresa; Buekers, Jurgen; Cañas-Portilla, Ana; Covaci, Adrian; Csako, Zsofia; Den Hond, Elly; Dvorakova, Darina; Fabelova, Lucia; Fletcher, Tony; Frederiksen, Hanne; Gabriel, Catherine; Ganzleben, Catherine; Göen, Thomas; Halldorsson, Thorhallur I.; Haug, Line S.; Horvat, Milena; Huuskonen, Pasi; Imboden, Medea; Jagodic Hudobivnik, Marta; Janasik, Beata; Janev Holcer, Natasa; Karakitsios, Spyros; Katsonouri, Andromachi; Klanova, Jana; Kokaraki, Venetia; Kold Jensen, Tina; Koponen, Jani; Laeremans, Michelle; Laguzzi, Federica; Lange, Rosa; Lemke, Nora; Lignell, Sanna; Lindroos, Anna Karin; Vicente, Joana Lobo; Luijten, Mirjam; Makris, Konstantinos C.; Mazej, Darja; Melymuk, Lisa; Meslin, Matthieu; Mol, Hans; Montazeri, Parisa; Murawski, Aline; Namorado, Sónia; Niemann, Lars; Nübler, Stefanie; Nunes, Baltazar; Olafsdottir, Kristin; Murinova, Lubica Palkovicova; Papaioannou, Nafsika; Pedraza-Diaz, Susana; Piler, Pavel; Plichta, Veronika; Poteser, Michael; Probst-Hensch, Nicole; Rambaud, Loïc; Rauscher-Gabernig, Elke; Rausova, Katarina; Remy, Sylvie; Riou, Margaux; Rosolen, Valentina; Rousselle, Christophe; Rüther, Maria; Sarigiannis, Denis; Silva, Maria J.; Šlejkovec, Zdenka; Tratnik, Janja Snoj; Stajnko, Anja; Szigeti, Tamas; Tarazona, José V.; Thomsen, Cathrine; Tkalec, Žiga; Tolonen, Hanna; Trnovec, Tomas; Uhl, Maria; Van Nieuwenhuyse, An; Vasco, Elsa; Verheyen, Veerle J.; Viegas, Susana; Vinggaard, Anne Marie; Vogel, Nina; Vorkamp, Katrin; Wasowicz, Wojciech; Weber, Till; Wimmerova, Sona; Woutersen, Marjolijn; Zimmermann, Philipp; Zvonar, Martin; Koch, Holger; Kolossa-Gehring, Marike; Esteban López, Marta; Castaño, Argelia; Stewart, Lorraine; Sepai, Ovnair; Schoeters, GreetAs one of the core elements of the European Human Biomonitoring Initiative (HBM4EU) a human biomonitoring (HBM) survey was conducted in 23 countries to generate EU-wide comparable HBM data. This survey has built on existing HBM capacity in Europe by aligning national or regional HBM studies, referred to as the HBM4EU Aligned Studies. The HBM4EU Aligned Studies included a total of 10,795 participants from three age groups: (i) 3,576 children aged 6-12 years, (ii) 3,117 teenagers aged 12-18 years, and (iii) 4,102 young adults aged 20-39 years. The participants were recruited between 2014 and 2021 in 11-12 countries per age group, geographically distributed across Europe. Depending on the age group, internal exposure to phthalates and the substitute DINCH, halogenated and organophosphorus flame retardants, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), cadmium, bisphenols, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), arsenic species, acrylamide, mycotoxins (deoxynivalenol (total DON)), benzophenones and selected pesticides was assessed by measuring substance specific biomarkers subjected to stringent quality control programs for chemical analysis. For substance groups analyzed in different age groups higher average exposure levels were observed in the youngest age group, i.e., phthalates/DINCH in children versus teenagers, acrylamide and pesticides in children versus adults, and benzophenones in teenagers versus adults. Many biomarkers in teenagers and adults varied significantly according to educational attainment, with higher exposure levels of bisphenols, phthalates, benzophenones, PAHs, and acrylamide in participants (from households) with lower educational attainment, while teenagers from households with higher educational attainment have higher exposure levels for PFASs and arsenic. In children, a social gradient was only observed for the non-specific pyrethroid metabolite 3-PBA and di-isodecyl phthalate (DiDP), with higher levels in children from households with higher educational attainment. Geographical variations were seen for all exposure biomarkers. For 15 biomarkers, the available health-based HBM guidance values were exceeded with the highest exceedance rates for toxicologically relevant arsenic in teenagers (40%), 3-PBA in children (36%), and between 11 and 14% for total DON, Σ (PFOA + PFNA + PFHxS + PFOS), bisphenol S and cadmium. The infrastructure and harmonized approach succeeded in obtaining comparable European-wide internal exposure data for a prioritized set of 11 chemical groups. These data serve as a reference for comparison at the global level, provide a baseline to compare the efficacy of the European Commission's chemical strategy for sustainability, and will give leverage to national policymakers for the implementation of targeted measures.
- Human biomonitoring in health risk assessment in Europe: current practices and recommendations for the futurePublication . Louro, Henriqueta; Heinälä, Milla; Bessems, Jos; Buekers, Jurgen; Vermeire, Theo; Woutersen, Marjolijn; van Engelen, Jacqueline; Borges, Teresa; Rousselle, Christophe; Ougier, Eva; Alvito, Paula; Martins, Carla; Assunção, Ricardo; Silva, Maria João; Pronk, Anjoeka; Schaddelee-Scholten, Bernice; Del Carmen Gonzalez, Maria; de Alba, Mercedes; Castaño, Argelia; Viegas, Susana; Humar-Juric, Tatjana; Kononenko, Lijana; Lampen, Alfonso; Vinggaard, Anne Marie; Schoeters, Greet; Kolossa-Gehring, Marike; Santonen, TiinaHuman biomonitoring (HBM) is an important tool to survey the internal exposure of humans which represents the real-life chemical body burden to chemicals and/or their metabolites. It results from total exposure to chemical substances from different sources and via different routes. These substances may be regulated under different legislative frameworks on chemicals (e.g., environmental, occupational, food safety, etc). In occupational health, HBM has long traditions to control the exposures at workplaces. By providing accurate data on internal exposure, HBM data can improve human health risk assessment (RA) for both the general population and workers. Although the past few years have shown good examples of the use of HBM in the RA of chemicals, there is still quite some work to be done to improve its use in a regulatory RA. Under the scope of the European Human Biomonitoring Initiative (project HBM4EU, 2017-2021), the current study reviews the state-of-the-art of HBM use in chemicals RA with a special focus in Europe and attempts to identify hurdles and challenges faced by regulators. To gather information on the use of HBM, including the availability of guidance on how to use it in RA, the RA schemes applied by different European or international organizations were analyzed. Examples of such use were identified for a few selected groups of chemicals of concern for human health. In addition, we present the results of a survey, aimed at collecting information from national regulatory risk assessors on their day-to-day RA practices, the use of HBM data, and the obstacles and challenges related to their use. The results evidenced and explained some of the current obstacles of using HBM data in RA. These included the lack of HBM guidance values or biomonitoring equivalents (BEs), limited toxicokinetic information to support the interpretation of HBM data and, in the occupational health and safety (OSH) field, the lack of legal enforcement. Therefore, to support the integration of HBM in regulatory RA, we recommend, on one hand, the elaboration of an EU level guidance on the use of HBM in RA and, on the other hand, the continuation of research efforts to integrate HBM with new RA approaches using in vitro/in silico data and Adverse Outcome Pathways (AOPs).
- Impacto das alterações climáticas na exposição da população portuguesa a aflatoxinasPublication . Assunção, Ricardo; Martins, Carla; Viegas, Susana; Viegas, Carla; Jakobsen, Lea E.; Pires, Sara M.; Alvito, PaulaAs alterações climáticas têm sido identificadas como um fator determinante para a segurança dos alimentos consumidos em todo o mundo. As micotoxinas, contaminantes alimentares produzidos por fungos, são habitualmente identificadas como um dos principais perigos neste contexto. As aflatoxinas assumem particular relevo, face à sua toxicidade aguda e crónica. A região do Mediterrâneo, incluindo Portugal, tem sido considerada uma região particularmente vulnerável às consequências das alterações climáticas. O presente estudo pretende estimar o impacto na saúde da exposição a aflatoxinas em Portugal e discutir a potencial influência das alterações climáticas no risco para a saúde associado a esta exposição. Para estimar o número de casos de carcinoma hepatocelular associados à exposição a aflatoxinas, foi determinada a fração atribuível da população. Para estimar o impacto da exposição a aflatoxinas na saúde dos Portugueses, a carga de doença foi determinada aplicando-se o conceito de anos de vida ajustados por incapacidade (DALY). É expectável que no futuro, em consequência das alterações climáticas, o número de DALYs bem como do número de casos de carcinoma hepatocelular aumente. A quantificação do impacto na saúde da exposição a aflatoxinas em cenário de alterações climáticas reveste-se de particular importância, em especial para o desenvolvimento de políticas e medidas preventivas que possam proteger a população.
- Ocorrência de cádmio em produtos à base de cereais, de origem convencional e biológica, destinados à alimentação infantilPublication . Martins, Carla Teles; Mercês, Ana; Alvito, PaulaA ingestão de alimentos é uma importante via de exposição a metais. As crianças e lactentes, através da dieta, estão sujeitos a uma maior exposição a contaminantes, quando comparados com outros grupos etários. Nos primeiros meses de vida predominam o leite e produtos à base de cereais. O cádmio é um metal tóxico que ocorre naturalmente no solo, entrando facilmente na cadeia alimentar do Homem e outros animais. Devido à presença de cádmio em fertilizantes utilizados na agricultura convencional, tem havido uma crescente procura de produtos de origem biológica, entendidos como menos prejudiciais ao ambiente e mais saudáveis. Neste estudo determinaram-se os teores de cádmio em dez amostras provenientes de ambos os modos de produção, usando a técnica de espectrometria de absorção atómica em câmara de grafite, após digestão por via seca. Todas as amostras analisadas apresentaram teores de cádmio inferiores aos teores máximos admissíveis para cereais. Para as amostras de produção convencional e biológica obtiveramse teores de cádmio situados entre <1,29,0 µg/Kg e 9,069,0 µg/Kg peso fresco, respectivamente. Os teores de cádmio encontrados são superiores nas amostras biológicas quando comparados com as de origem convencional. É de todo o interesse desenvolver novos estudos, alargados a um maior número de amostras e variedade de produtos, bem como estudar outras características que possam influenciar o teor de cádmio nos alimentos.
- Prioritized substance group – Mycotoxins: scoping document (2nd round of prioritization)Publication . Alvito, Paula; Silva, Maria João; Viegas, SusanaHuman Biomonitoring for Europe (HBM4EU) has established a strategy for deriving prioritized substance groups that HBM4EU will work on in 2019 and 2020. This stepwise strategy included input from national and EU policymakers and from stakeholders. The substances were nominated and prioritized according to a transparent procedure that is described in Deliverable 4.3 on the Prioritisation strategy and criteria, produced by the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES). The detailed description of how this prioritization strategy was implemented in practice, the inputs received and the methodology applied for selecting substances to include in the second list of prioritized substances is the subject of the Deliverable D4.4 (lead European Environment Agency, EEA).
- Risks vs benefits of nuts consumption in Portugal: the balance between preventable myocardial infarctions and the burden of the liver cancer associated to aflatoxin exposurePublication . Assunção, Ricardo; Jakobsen, Lea S.; Alvito, Paula; Carmona, Paulo; Carvalho, Catarina; Lopes, Carla; Martins, Carla; Monteiro, Sarogini; Nabais, Pedro; Correia, Daniela; Torres, Duarte; Viegas, Carla; Viegas, Susana; Nauta, Maarten; Pires, Sara M.The occurrence of mycotoxins in nuts, including the most potent carcinogenic aflatoxins (AFTs), has been reported by several authors worldwide. Notwithstanding, nut consumption plays an important role in the Mediterranean diet due to their nutrient contents and the consequent potential to produce beneficial health effects, as the prevention of cardiovascular diseases. The present study aimed to quantify the health impact in terms of Disability-adjusted life years (DALY) of increasing nut consumption to 30g/day by adult Portuguese population when compared to the current intake.